On the same day the franchise announced Benn had surgery to repair a core muscle injury, it also announced an eight-year contract extension for $76 million ($9.5 million average annual value). The two events are not unrelated.

Benn had double hip surgery last summer and now will require a six-week rehab this summer for a stomach muscle pull. Yet the soon-to-be-27-year-old captain played all 82 regular-season games last year and plans to play all 82 again this season. That's one of the reasons the Stars believe they can count on Benn for years to come.

"He's as good as anybody there is," said Stars general manager Jim Nill after making the announcement Friday at the Stars Party in the Park in downtown Dallas. "He's one of the top forwards in the NHL, he's the leader of our team, and he's a great person, as well."

Benn had surgery Thursday in Philadelphia to repair the stomach muscle "stretch" as Nill called it, so he wasn't available for comment. However, he said after the season that he wanted the contract extension done in the summer so it wouldn't be hanging over his head. Benn has one year remaining on his current deal that averages $5.25 million, and then the new contract will kick in during the 2017-18 season.

Benn said after the season was over that he plans to stay with the Stars for his entire career.

"This is where I want to be, this is where I want to stay," he said when asked about a contract extension. "I don't think it's going to a problem."

It wasn't. He and agent Rich Evans took care of things quickly, and even the surgery didn't stand in the way. Now, Benn is expected to be back in Frisco soon rehabbing in hopes of getting ready for the World Cup of Hockey, which starts Sept. 17 in Toronto.

Benn's six-week therapy ends Aug. 26, so there's a good chance he still can play for Canada at the Olympics-style tournament that will match the best players in the world.

"Jamie's goal is still to play in the World Cup," Nill said. "We're going have him rehab, see what's going on in six weeks, and make a decision at that time."

If you want to guess where Benn might be, consider that he played through hip pain in 2014-15 and won the Art Ross Trophy as leading scorer in the NHL. He then had surgery on both hips and came back to tally a career-best 89 points (41 goals, 48 assists) last season and earn a spot on the NHL's postseason first All-Star team.

Benn is the only player in the 49-year history of the Stars franchise to earn that award -- and he's done it twice. He also finished on the second team last season. He is arguably the best left wing in hockey, arguably one of the best players, and now one of the most highly compensated.

Nill said the negotiation was sort of simple. Benn ranks second in the NHL to Sidney Crosby over the last three seasons with 255 points in 245 games. He had 15 points in 13 playoff games this spring. He won a gold medal with Canada in the 2014 Olympics.

So while $9.5 million is a lot of money, it's less than the $10.5 million that Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane make in Chicago and less than the $10 million Anze Kopitar makes in Los Angeles. It's higher than the $8.5 million Steve Stamkos signed for in Tampa Bay, but Benn has better numbers.

The contract will take Benn to age 36 and sets up parameters when Tyler Seguin needs a new deal in three seasons. Keeping things in balance and managing the salary cap are key for any team, and Nill said Benn wanted to make sure the team was in good shape.

"Jamie wanted to make sure we were good, that he would be able to play for a good team," Nill said. "This helps us with that."

The fact it was announced at a celebration of Stars fans while Benn was looking to overcome an injury said a lot about the organization -- and a lot about Jamie Benn.

"We've got good people here, and this is a great night," Nill said. "I think it's the start of something very good."